Vehicular rearview mirror system

• US 8,362,885 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drummond, John P., Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US13/276,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20120032780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 362/494, 348/148
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

A vehicular rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having an interior electrochromic reflective element. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a control that has circuitry operable to provide a drive signal to the reflective element to vary the reflectance level of the interior electrochromic reflective element. The control includes a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of the equipped vehicle. The interior rearview mirror system includes a forward-facing camera. The control may control at least one of (a) operation of a video display, (b) operation of the forward-facing camera and (c) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly may include a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, wherein a reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element is variable responsive to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;

said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said vehicular rearview mirror system comprises a forward-facing camera; and

wherein said control controls at least two of (a) operation of said video display, (b) operation of said forward-facing camera and (c) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle.

2. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry shares at least one component associated with at least one of (a) operation of said video display, (b) operation of said forward-facing camera, (c) control of a headlight of the equipped vehicle, (d) operation of a garage door opener, and (e) operation of a rain sensor.

3. The vehicular rearview minor system of claim 2, wherein said at least one component comprises a microprocessor.

4. The vehicular rearview minor system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a garage door opener and wherein said garage door opener is at least partially controlled by said control.

5. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 4, wherein said control shares at least one of a component and circuitry with said garage door opener.

6. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said control comprises digital circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element.

7. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry comprises digital circuitry.

8. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 7, wherein said digital circuitry comprises a microprocessor.

9. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to receive information via said vehicle bus via at least one of a wire, a cable and a fiber-optic connection.

10. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle bus comprises at least one of (a) a CAN bus, (b) a LIN bus and (c) a LAN bus.

11. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises said forward-facing camera.

12. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said control is associated with at least one other accessory.

13. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said at least one other accessory comprises at least one of (a) circuitry associated with an instrument panel of the equipped vehicle, (b) an element of a remote keyless entry system of the equipped vehicle, (c) an element of an information system of the equipped vehicle, (d) an element of a navigation system of the equipped vehicle, (e) an element of a global-positioning system of the equipped vehicle and (f) an element of a telematics system of the equipped vehicle.

14. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said at least one other accessory comprises an element of a remote keyless entry system of the equipped vehicle.

15. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 12, wherein said at least one other accessory comprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly that includes an exterior electrochromic reflective element that has its reflectance level variable responsive to an exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal, and wherein said control is operable to provide said exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said exterior electrochromic reflective element via said vehicle bus.

16. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 15, wherein said reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element as varied responsive to said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal differs from said reflectance level of said exterior electrochromic reflective element as varied responsive to said exterior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal.

17. The vehicular rearview minor system of claim 1, wherein said control is responsive to reverse gear information sent via said vehicle bus.

18. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 17, wherein, responsive to said reverse gear information, said control establishes a high reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element when a reverse gear of the equipped vehicle is selected.

19. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a user actuatable element.

20. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 19, wherein actuation of said user actuatable element is communicated via said vehicle bus.

21. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry shares at least one component associated with a rain sensor.

22. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 21, wherein said rain sensor comprises an image-based rain sensor.

23. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to receive information via said vehicle bus.

24. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one of (a) a microphone and (b) a sound processor.

25. The vehicular rearview minor system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an input for a telematics system of the vehicle.

26. A vehicular rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, wherein a reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element is variable responsive to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

said interior rearview minor assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;

said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said interior rearview minor assembly comprises a forward-facing camera;

wherein said control controls at least one of (a) operation of said video display, (b) operation of said forward-facing camera and (c) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said control is responsive to reverse gear information sent via said vehicle bus.

27. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein, responsive to said reverse gear information, said control establishes a high reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element when a reverse gear of the equipped vehicle is selected.

28. The vehicular rearview minor system of claim 26, wherein said circuitry shares at least one component associated with at least one of (a) operation of said video display, (b) operation of said forward-facing camera, (c) control of a headlight of the equipped vehicle, (d) operation of a garage door opener, and (e) operation of a rain sensor.

29. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a user actuatable element, and wherein actuation of said user actuatable element is communicated via said vehicle bus.

30. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 26, wherein said control is operable to receive information via said vehicle bus.

31. A vehicular rearview minor system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview minor system comprising;

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, wherein a reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element is variable responsive to an interior minor electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

said interior rearview minor assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;

said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview minor assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera;

wherein said control controls at least one of (a) operation of said forward-facing camera and (b) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said circuitry shares at least one component associated with at least one of (a) operation of said forward-facing camera, (b) control of a headlight of the equipped vehicle, (c) operation of a garage door opener, and (d) operation of a rain sensor.

32. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 31, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a user actuatable element, and wherein actuation of said user actuatable element is communicated via said vehicle bus.

33. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 31, wherein said control is operable to receive information via said vehicle bus.

34. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 31, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle.

35. The vehicular rearview minor system of claim 34, wherein said control controls operation of said video display.

36. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 34, wherein said circuitry shares at least one component associated with operation of said video display.

37. A vehicular rearview minor system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular rearview mirror system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising an interior electrochromic reflective element, wherein a reflectance level of said interior electrochromic reflective element is variable responsive to an interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal;

said interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a control, wherein said control comprises circuitry operable to provide said interior mirror electrochromic reflective element drive signal to said interior electrochromic reflective element;

said control comprising a bus interface that interfaces with a vehicle bus of a vehicle equipped with said interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a forward-facing camera;

wherein said control controls at least one of (a) operation of said forward-facing camera and (b) operation of a headlight control for controlling a headlight of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said control is operable to receive information via said vehicle bus and wherein said vehicle bus comprises at least one of (a) a CAN bus, (b) a LIN bus and (c) a LAN bus.

38. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 37, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a user actuatable element, and wherein actuation of said user actuatable element is communicated via said vehicle bus.

39. The vehicular rearview minor system of claim 37, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a video display operable to display video information for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein at least one of (a) said control controls operation of said video display and (b) said control shares at least one component associated with operation of said video display.

40. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 37, wherein said control shares at least one component associated with at least one of (a) operation of said forward-facing camera, (b) control of a headlight of the equipped vehicle, (c) operation of a garage door opener, and (d) operation of a rain sensor.

41. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 37, wherein said control is operable to receive information via said vehicle bus via at least one of a wire, a cable and a fiber-optic connection.

42. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 37, wherein said control is responsive to reverse gear information sent via said vehicle bus.

43. The vehicular rearview minor system of claim 37, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one of (a) a microphone and (b) a sound processor.

44. The vehicular rearview mirror system of claim 37, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an input for a telematics system of the vehicle.